DAVID Moyes heads into the most important Merseyside derby of his six years as Everton manager insisting he is still searching for perfection. And the Scot also admits it is Sir Alex Ferguson's longevity at Manchester United which remains his inspiration.
Moyes completed six years in charge at Goodison Park earlier this month and maintains the 'best is yet to come', while preparing to face Liverpool at the weekend with his side two points behind their city rivals in fifth place.
He said that among
his favourite moments at Everton was the 2004-05 season when they qualified for the Champions League by defeating Manchester United during the run-in thanks to a Duncan Ferguson header.
Moyes continued: "Then there was Wayne Rooney's goal when we beat Arsenal, and then beating Liverpool in the derby when AJ (Andrew Johnson] scored.
"The best moments are still to come though, that is how I always look at it. That is my look on life.
"I really hope that is true at Everton. I'm looking, I suppose, for perfection.
"I am always told that I am very intense, but when I was a young player and growing up I used to look at Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen.
"Intensity comes with the job because I am determined to succeed. I am doing everything I can to succeed here and I work hard and I am very determined."
Moyes, who will have close-season talks on a new contract, added: "I look upon Sir Alex, I suppose, as a role model, but mainly I look at him and wonder, 'How can you have stayed in this job so long?'
"I am struggling and fighting to win, win, and win. And he (Sir Alex] just shells them out every season, that's why I admire him.
"But I also admire Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho. I could go on and on about them. I see these managers as successful and continue to be a success.
"For me, it is getting to the Champions League. We had one taste of it, and that whetted my appetite. That is why it would be great to do it this season."
Moyes wants more of the European competition Everton enjoyed so much this season before the dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat in the Uefa Cup against Fiorentina. He said: "We really enjoyed being in Europe this term, and we were gutted when we went out. But that showed me that we want more of it, we need more of it. We would really want to be in the 'big' competition now."
The full article contains 440 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
